Permit to be deposited industrial waste at an unlicensed site at Laverton North from 26.06.2013 to 25.10.2014, contrary to s.27A(2)(a).

EPA received the community pollution report in June 2013 alleging hundreds of drums and bulk containers containing waste were being stored at the company’s paint and glue manufacturing site on Fitzgerald Road.

Inspections by EPA officers found 50 bulk containers and 400 drums of PIW that was not generated at the premises stored on site.

The drums and containers were rusting and collapsing, bulging, leaking waste onto the concrete floor and were in an advanced state of decay.

Samples taken confirmed the waste was Category A – Prescribed Industrial Waste (PIW), and included nylon, grease/oil, acrylic emulsions and paint pigments.

Category A PIW requires the highest level of management due to its potential to be hazardous to human health and the environment.

EPA’s investigation found the waste had been accumulating at the premises since the early 1990s until around 2001-2002 when they stopped accepting waste.

Under the Environment Protection Act 1970, it is an offence to store PIW from other industries without an EPA licence or approval.

EPA issued the company with clean-up notices requiring all industrial waste be removed from the site. The company complied with these notices and EPA revoked its last notice on 1 June 2015 after it was satisfied that all requirements had been met.